Romulo: No interest nor desire to be US ambassador

In an apparent move to quash persistent rumors that he is on the way out, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said he has no "interest nor desire" to assume any overseas posting, even as the ambassador to the United States.

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesman Gilberto Asuque relayed Romulo’s statement, saying he intended to stay on as foreign secretary for the remainder of President Arroyo’s term.

"I have no interest nor desire for any ambassadorial assignment. The President and I have agreed on a diplomatic agenda that will be pursued by the Department of Foreign Affairs under my leadership in the coming months and for the remainder of her term," Romulo said.

"I am grateful for her full trust and confidence in me as her Secretary of Foreign Affairs. The DFA will continue to perform its work in promoting the country’s national interest in bilateral, international and multilateral fora with utmost professionalism and dedication as befitting the trust and confidence of our President and the Filipino people," he said.

Talk of Romulo’s supposed imminent departure from the DFA was apparently triggered by the appointment of retired Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. as ambassador to Washington.

Davide’s appointment left former DFA Undersecretary Lauro Baja Jr. without a job as the erstwhile chief envoy of the Philippines to the UN.

Baja’s daughter is married to a scion of the Barbers political clan, whose patriarch was the late former senator Robert Barbers.

Robert Dean Barbers is chairman of the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA), his older brother is incumbent Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, and another older brother is Surigao del Norte Gov. Robert Lyndon Barbers.

To make way for the jobless Baja, there were rumors that Romulo will be appointed as envoy to Washington. Baja, on the other hand, will replace Romulo as DFA chief. — Rainier Allan Ronda